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In the latest development of the legal wranglings over wastewater rates in Oxnard, a judge Tuesday sided with the city over Measure M author Aaron Starr.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Rocky Baio granted the city a temporary stay on Measure M, meaning that wastewater rates that were set to be decreased this week will remain the same and increase in January.

It was a setback for Starr, whose Measure M was supported by 72 percent of voters in November. The ballot initiative rolls back wastewater rates, which increased by 35 percent for residents’ March utility bill.

Under Measure M, residents would see their wastewater bills return to February levels starting Friday but the city asked Judge Baio to temporary halt Measure M until a legal resolution is reached with Starr.

According to the city, the revenue is needed to continue operations and maintenance of the wastewater facility and to ease financial institutions’ concerns over the city’s debt obligations.

Baio on Tuesday said his role is to weigh the harm that could be caused to the city or to Starr and rate payers. He said in considering the city’s ability to properly maintain the wastewater system and the city’s ability to borrow from banks, he had to grant the temporary stay.

“It was not even a close call for me,” Baio said.

The judge’s ruling means Measure M will not go forth until the issue is resolved between the city and Starr. The original wastewater rate schedule passed by the City Council will continue.

Residents will continue paying the current rates and will see a 10 percent increase in January.

Baio said because the temporary stay will negatively affect residents who can’t afford the increases, he wants the trial to commence as soon as possible.

The city has indicated it is ready to go to trial as soon as March although no date has been set. The trial will determine the legality of Measure M.

City Manager Greg Nyhoff said the judge’s decision was what he had hoped.

“I understand where the rate payers are coming from but our facilities are in a dire situation,” Nyhoff said. “I appreciate the judge’s ruling.”

Starr said Baio made a judgment call and understands the decision. Starr said the city had given him 24 hours to respond to the city’s request for a Measure M stay.

“We were given limited time to respond,” Starr said.

Had he been given more time to put together a case for why the city shouldn’t be granted a stay, the outcome might be different, Starr said.

About 50 people were in the courtroom to hear Baio’s decision, most of them were residents supporting Measure M.

Last month, the City Council voted in favor of asking a judge for a Measure M stay and voted in favor of starting a new rate increase process. The process includes a rate study, setting a proposed rate, and allowing residents to protest.

Starr supports a new rate increase process and believes the city can set a rate that is much lower than the current schedule while still meeting debt obligations. He said the judge’s decision puts less pressure on the city to set new rates.

“If the judge had not granted the (stay on Measure M) there would be more urgency for the city to go forward with a rate study and come up with new rates,” Starr said.

Public Works Director Dan Rydberg said staff will ask the council to consider establishing a utility rate advisory panel at a meeting tentatively scheduled for Dec. 20. Such a panel would include residents and business representatives to provide input on new wastewater rates.

Rydberg said a new proposed rate could be ready for council approval in March.